Snake bite bogus, ranger says

A man airlifted from the Blue Ridge Parkway this week falsely reported being bitten by a snake, authorities determined today.

“Based on information developed in our investigation, on the scene and speaking to folks, things are not pointing toward snake envenomization,” said Ridge District Ranger Kurt Speers.

Rescuers found a 48-year-old man lying semi-conscious in the Dripping Rock area near milemarker 9 on the parkway Tuesday afternoon. A passer-by told authorities the man had been bitten five times by a timber rattler, information later passed on to another man who photographed the victim being airlifted to UVa.

“It does not look like snakes were involved,” Speers said Thursday, adding that he has concluded an investigation into the incident.

No charges are expected. Speers would not say what provoked the man to report a snake bite.

Snake experts and local rescuers said snake bites are rare in the area.

“Given the numbers of snakes up here, we have very few incidents of envenomization,” Speers said.

A state wildlife biologist said this week that more than two bites by a timber rattler would be unusual. Rattler venom can be lethal. Roughly 7,000 people are bitten by snakes each year, and an average of about five of those cases prove fatal, according to federal statistics.

Bob Stuart contributed to this report.